Golf ball retriever



June 11, 1940. w. FILIPIAK 2,204,482 GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed Aug. 21, 1939 ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED stares GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Walter Filipiak, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 21,

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a golf accessory and more especially to a golf ball retriever.

The primary object of the invention is-the provision of an accessory of this character wherein a coupling for'the staff or stick of a golf club carries a grapple so that a golf ball can be conveniently retrieved or picked up, especially if the same drops into a body of water known as a water hazard in-a golf course or rolls to a remote congested place from the fairway in the playing of the game of golf, thus relieving the player of the game in this laborious task and at the same time recovering the ball which might otherwise become lost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an accessory of this character wherein the construction thereof enables the same to be carried in a golf bag. in that it can be brought to a contracted condition occupying the least extended for a considerable distance to assure a long reach for the retrieving of a golf ball when in'a restricted locality, particularly when the same drops into bushes or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an accessory of this character which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in operation, readily and easily handled being light in weight yet strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view; the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as 'will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

- In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the accessory constructed in accordance with the invention applied to the grip or handle end of a golf club.

in section of the extensible ,and' contractible reach member for the accessory.- I Figure 6 is a side elevation of a plug employed in the accessory.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

possible space and also is susceptible of being 1939, Serial No. 291,252

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally the accessory constituting the present invention comprising atubular coupling unit annularly outstruck at intervals thereof to provide various sized socketing portions H], II and I2 respectively, the portion l0 being'for a major portion of the length of the same while the portions 1 I and I2 conform to'the grip or handle ends of golf clubs, a portion of one being 7 indicated at [3 and releasabiy fitted within the portion 1 l.

Removably fitting the portion Ill at the outer I open end thereof is a grapple for picking up and the holding of a golf ball and comprises a pair of spaced opposed outwardly bulged jaws l4 both being formed from a single length of inherently resilient wire and are in association with restricted attaching stems or shanks I 5, these being bentfrom the single length of wire and areadap-ted in their shape to fit within the portion ll) of the unit hereinbefore described. To maintaim the stems l5 engaged within the is a compressible retaining plug I1 in the form of a' cork being driven into said socket l6 through the outer open end of the portion [0 between the stems l5 and in this manner releasably socket l6 formed by the portion H) of the unit 7 holding the said stems I5 telescopically fitted within: the socket IS in said portion Ill. The jaws M .are expansible and contractible so that the same can be slipped over a gOlf ball for the picking of such ball from the place of deposit thereof and in thisvmanner enabling the re,- trieving of the ball without necessitating a person stooping over and recovering the ball by hand as is customary.

The unit A when applied to the grip or handle of a golf club enables a reasonable reach in the use of the. accessory when recovering or retrieving a golf ball.

Adapted to be used in connection with the unit A is a sectional extensible reach rod involving the series of telescopically interfitted tubularsections l8, l9 and 20 respectively. These sections in their telescopic fitting are slidable one with relation to the other so that thejrod can be expanded or contracted at the option of s the user thereof; I a v The sections of this rod can be of the desired lengthso as to increase or decrease the reach of the rod whenextended. The section I8 is of cross sectionalsize adaptable for fitting within the socket 2| in the portion ll of the unit A for the wearing thereof for the purpose of retrieving or recovering a golf ball. The accessory is adaptable for carriage Within a golf bag it being understood that the unit A is detached from the club or the rod and. the latter is contracted so as to occupy minimum space in the carrying of such accessory. This accessory enables the retrieving of a golf ball when dropping into a ditch or within a body of water known as a water hazard in a golf course.

The ball when retrieved or recovered is frictionally held between the jaws l4 and is susceptible from being withdrawn from between these jaws after retrieving or recovering the same.

The unit A at the portion I0 exteriorly thereof has embracing the same a clip 22 so that it can be fastened to the golf bag to hang within the same from the open mouth thereof and in this manner avoiding the falling out of the unit when carried within the bag.

What is claimed is:

A golf ball retriever, comprising a socketed member having its socket opening through one end thereof, a grapple having opposed inherently resilient jaws provided with separated stems fitting the socket, and a compressible plug releasably interposed between the stems and frictionally engaged in the socket for the separable fastening of the grapple.

WALTER FILIPIAK. 

